Lecture Notes: The Valkyrie and Wotan's Wrath

Key Characters

• Brünnhilde: A Valkyrie who defies Wotan's command.
• Wotan: The god who is angered by Brünnhilde's defiance.
• Sieglinde: Siegmund's sister and bride, who is protected by Brünnhilde.
• Siegmund: A hero who is killed by Wotan, Sieglinde's beloved.
• Valkyries: Sisters of Brünnhilde, tasked with carrying heroes to Valhalla.

Key Plot Points

Valkyries Gather

• Valkyries gather, discussing their tasks and the heroes they carry.
• Brünnhilde arrives in haste, carrying Sieglinde, fleeing from Wotan’s wrath.

Brünnhilde's Plea

• Brünnhilde seeks help from her sisters to protect Sieglinde from Wotan.
• She reveals that Sieglinde is pregnant with Siegmund’s child, whom she names Siegfried, a future hero.

Wotan’s Arrival

• Wotan arrives in anger, seeking Brünnhilde who has defied him.
• He expresses his rage and disappointment at Brünnhilde’s actions.

Wotan’s Sentence

• Wotan declares Brünnhilde no longer a Valkyrie.
• She is to be left asleep on a mountain, vulnerable to any man who finds her.

Valkyrie’s Desperation

• Brünnhilde pleads for protection, asking for a barrier of fire to be placed around her.
• Wotan reluctantly agrees, ensuring only a hero can reach her.

Final Farewell

• Wotan bids a sorrowful farewell to Brünnhilde, as he puts her to sleep.
• He surrounds her with a magical fire, ensuring her only suitor will be a hero of great bravery.

Themes

• Defiance and Punishment: Brünnhilde’s defiance of Wotan’s command leads to her severe punishment.
• Sacrifice and Protection: Brünnhilde sacrifices her status to protect Sieglinde and her child.
• Heroism and Fate: The unborn Siegfried is destined to be a great hero, a central figure in future events.
• Love and Loss: Wotan’s love for Brünnhilde is evident, but his duty forces him to punish her.

Important Dialogue

• Brünnhilde’s Defense: She argues her actions were guided by love and Wotan’s true will.
• Wotan’s Anguish: He expresses the conflict between his duties and his love for Brünnhilde.
• Final Request: Brünnhilde asks for a protective barrier, ensuring her fate is tied to a worthy hero.

Conclusion

• The lecture explores themes of obedience, love, sacrifice, and destiny, set against a dramatic backdrop of divine conflict and heroic lineage.